Simply Love

This week has been a heck-of-a-week. Many lessons that inspired personal growth, personal reflection. Most of all, it showed me the power of love, how loved and supported I am, and how even in the face of extreme loss, love conquers all.

This week a very courageous, funny, talented man who lit up the earth with his smile and laughter lost his lifelong battle with cystic fibrosis. Jesse was 3 years post lung transplant, and 9 months into a marriage when this all happened. No one, and I mean no one, will forget meeting Jesse. His laugh was contagious, his humor fantastic. Even his facial expressions were one-in-a-million. Luckily, one of the sweetest people on earth, my friend Jessica, got to love him for 6 magical years.

Their love is (yes is, not was) the kind of love that is palpable. You can see them in the same vicinity and know that they are together. Looks, smiles, feelings. You know that they are bonded by heart. They share goofy mannerisms, they share knowing looks, smiles: literally palpable love. If you haven't been in the presence of two people in this type of love, let me just say it is amazing. Incredible. Meant to be together forever? Did they love with every inch of their entire heart and soul? Absolutely. They were side by side through all of the challenges with health and triumphs too.

Now, never having shared this type of love with someone (I truly believe not everyone does), I cannot even imagine the incredible loss her heart is feeling. However, as with all things in life, she is positive and inspirational through even the worst of pain. We have all experienced loss, but I imagine the loss of your other half is crushing. But Jessica, as always, is taking it with style, grace and beauty. Some people just shine, and she is one of them.

So, this week has been about people rallying around one another. I have said "I love you" where it should have been said long ago. In all reality, we are not promised another tomorrow. Love with your whole heart, and say the words that need to be said. Don't be afraid to go all in, with all you have.

Love is amazing, love heals. And above all, don't settle for anything less than earth shattering, amazing love where two people help to make each other the best version of one another through beauty and commitment.

To Jessica: you shine with more elegance, love, strength and beauty than anyone I have met in my entire life. My heart is breaking for you in these moments, but I know that you are capable of overcoming and continuing to shine in love.

To Jesse: my dear, you impacted more lives in your time on earth than most people do in a lifetime. You can finally breath easy, and you are sharing those laughs, smiles and talents with whomever happens to be on the other side of life.

To my friends, family, and everyone in between: my commitment to you in 2015 is this: more love. I commit to do the work on me so that I can say confidently some day that I have experienced a love like theirs.

Happy Saturday!

Love,

Kara


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